Wednesday, January 23, 2008

I hope that everyone is aware of the execrable "Protect America" Act (FISA) which is the bill that contains the right of the government to spy on everyone AND contains immunity for Telecom companies who helped Bush and Cheney spy on everyone from before and after 9/11. (Yes, they were eavesdropping before 9/11.) This bill needs reauthorization. Senator Dodd and Senator Feingold and others are trying to stop the insertion of language that provides the immunity for ATT and their buddies. But Harry Reid is busy kissing Dick Cheney's ass.

We have to finish FISA this week. Everyone should be aware of that point. We have to finish it this week. I know there are important trips people want to take. We have the very important economic conference in Davos that Democrats and Republicans alike would like to go to...[snip]...This is not something we are going to have a silent filibuster on. If someone wants to filibuster this bill, they are going to do it in the openness of the Senate.

Awwww, poor baby wants to go Switzerland. WHO GIVES A FUCK! This shit is ridiculous. So Reid is not forcing the Republicans to do their filibustering "in the openness of the Senate", just the Democratic Senators who haven't pocketed money from the Teleco's. This is complete bullshit. This bill must be stopped.

UPDATE:Greenwald points out this bill will also ensure that Bush gets vast new warrantless eavesdroppings powers and permanent protection from investigation into illegal spying, read more.

UPDATE II: Good summary of what kind of heinous changes they are trying to amend to this bill here

New corporate and government spying authority which is being accompanied by a simultaneous effort to hold immune from lawsuits the cooperating corporations, that would block off Judicial Branch review to prevent the Supreme Court from having an opportunity to rule that these spying authorities openly violate the Fourth Amendment.